Livestock Infected with Worms Belch and Fart 33% More Methane

Scientists find that parasites dramatically alter how much methane a sheep emits. It's estimated that 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, and a substantial portion of that is directly 'emitted' by livestock. And just last year, climate scientists reported that we've actually been underestimating the extent to which the combined belches and flatulence of farmed animals contributes to climate change by 11%. Unsurprisingly, there's been renewed interest in reducing those emissions, especially considering the demand for livestock is only growing. Now, scientist from the UK report one thing that will help: keep the animals parasite-free. Livestock's sizeable contribution to climate change has farmers and scientists working together to find ways to reduce their gas emissions. There are efforts looking into things like revamping feeds or optimizing gut microbes, but so far, there simply aren't any reliable and affordable ways for farmers to reduce their flock's flatulence—other than reducing ...